tis the season

The boys really got into decorating their ginger bread house this year. I think I might have to get them each their own next time they decorated it so fast. Nice to take a break out of our day to have fun all together.

What a Blessed Day

Sunday we had Joshua's blessing at Church. It was doubly special because my SIL Natalie and her hubby had their baby, Taylee Dawn, just nine days before us so we did a double blessing.

It was fun to get together afterwards and celebrate these two little ones.

The Barker and Sutherland side. This is just half of everyone at the party.

joshua alexander wearing the outfit my maternal grandmother knitted before she died 20 years ago. it had never been worn before. The blanket was knitted by great grandma baxter (Lance's grandma) and each of my boys were blessed wrapped in it.

Taylee Dawn Jensen and Joshua Alexander Barker

My parents came out from Oregon to meet him.

Great Grandparents

Oh Christmas tree!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we went out to get our Christmas tree. We wanted to do it the old fashioned way and cut it down but when we got to the tree farm the trees looked sickly so I said no way. So we found a lot that had their trees brought in from good ol' Sandy, OR. I knew that this was the place. We wanted a big tree this year but after looking around the lot none were the right size. Then I went to the way back and found this 9 footer. I asked them to untie it so I could see what it looked like. He told me it was untied and that it was just frozen solid.

He assured me it would be beautiful and it being from oregon, I believed him. We took it home, Lance and his dad set it up and it proceeded to unthaw while we all watched the BYU vs. Utah game. Even though the game was heartbreaking we had this beautiful tree to lift our spirits that night.

Happy Thanksgiving

Lance had to work down in Provo this Thanksgiving so we were left with the challenge of taking out our four boys for Turkey dinner. This is no small task so we decided the safest place was the cafeteria on BYU campus. It worked out well. The cafeteria had plenty of room for our boys to stretch out and we didn't have to worry about the noise level (it being cafeteria and all).

Cordon digests better upside down.

Love this boy

Blue steel

boys swim while mom naps NICE

Excuses excuses

Cordon is the king of excuses. And he can think them up on the fly. Here are just a couple of the excuses that I hear all day long.

Darren was crying because Cordon said something mean:

Me: Cordon why would you say that?

Cordon: oh sorry mom, I was just practicing talking.

(Darren called him out)

Darren: but Cordon you already know how to talk.

Cordon sitting in a bubble bath with an entire roll of toilet

paper floating around him.

Me: Cordon why did you put that in there?

Cordon: oh sorry mom, I thought it was the garbage.

Last but not Least

Welcome

Joshua Alexander Barker

Nov. 5, 2010 2:56pm

9 lbs 2 oz

21 in.

not about football

So this is our family's sixth consecutive season with BYU football season tickets. But the best thing about this season is by the end of the season I will no longer be pregnant. In fact maybe since it is a bye week by the next game. How great would that be! So if we are up to it we might just have another fan in the picture for the New Mexico game on Nov. 20. And we just might even win that game too!

New healthy favorite

While Lance was training for another marathon he got some great recipes from runnersworld.com. This was our favorite new healthy training meal. High in protein and flavor.

3/4 lb of shrimp

pint of grape tomatoes

marjoram

paprika

feta cheese

olive oil

broccoli

garlic pepper

1 cups of Quinoa

Heat 1 cup Quinoa and 2 cups water to boiling. Cover then simmer until water is absorbed.

Broil Shrimp, tomatoes, marjoram, paprika drizzled with olive oil for approx eight minutes. Then toss around pan and add feta cheese and broil another 3-5 min.

season broccoli with garlic pepper and steam until tender.

Pile Quinoa on a platter. Top with the shrimp and tomato mixture and surround with broccoli and enjoy your high protein super meal. Then go for a nice long run the next day. Or not.

Soccer

Cordon and Darren just finished up their fall soccer season. This was Cordon's first time ever attempting soccer. He did great considering soccer probably isn't his thing. He really had no interest besides what the after game snack would be. Actually, he really liked the practices and the coach had fun games to play with them. But as far as game time, Cordon spent more time waving to me from the field than paying attention to where the ball was.

If he is going to show them off they may as well match.

Not sure if the 5 year olds are up for heading the ball yet.

team spirit. Darren is #5

going in for a little victory nose pick. Score!

out of the mouths of babes...

Cordon coming up the stairs crying;

Me: Cord, what happened?

Cordon: I bit my arm.

Me: What?

Cordon: I just ate it.

Me: Why did you do that?

Cordon: I thought it was food.

(Should I be worried?)

Darren was very happy with himself and smiling after

building a jet fighter with his legos

Darren: I just can't get my cheeks to come down!

...more happiest place pics

We were able to do a character breakfast at Disneyland and the boys just loved seeing goofy, captain hook, chip and dale, minnie, eeyore and more. Cameron was particularly enamored with the characters and was sad when we had to go.

Cordon and his swords (straws)

Happy Birthday Mom. And Happy 40th anniversary mom and dad.

The whole reason for the trip!

A little teaser

I have a ton of pictures from our outstanding trip to DL. It was truly a fantastic trip even though I was well into the the third trimester. But here are just a few highlights of the trip.

Mary, Sara, my mom and Lance (all with hands in the air) enjoyed another trip on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The boys opted out of it this time.

This was the very first ride of our vacation. The boys said they loved it but neither of them

wanted to ride the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad again. Of course, I got to sit out with Cameron and be photographer.

This pic is a little out of order but this is after splash mountain. the boys are soaked and a little TO'd that we tricked them into riding it.

This pic shows just how Darren felt about getting stuck in front and he got drenched. Cordon is in the back seat with my dad and also was not happy about getting wet.

Darren eventually forgave Mary and after the boys discovered Fantasy Land Darren said he wanted to live in DL forever. They honestly had a great time and we all had a great laugh at their expense.

First day of school. Ready to learn and get some knowledge!

Goodbye summer, hello fall!

School officially started today for Darren. Kindergarten. My babe is in kindergarten. It is kind of anti climactic for me though. Kindergarteners do not ride the bus at his school so I take him and pick him up three hours later. So basically the same as the preschool schedule for the last two years. Plus I have been so excited for this day. School, to me, means the beginning of fall. Which means summer is over. Which means I made it through summer being pregnant and now I am in the home stretch. But before I put summer behind me I want to document some of the highlights (and lowlights) of the season.

Darren and Cordon managing to get the car out of the garage....

....and into the bushes.

summer bbq's on the back deck

gator rides

family swims

cannon balls

(Darren has a thing with goggles)

Visits from Grandpa

fun family times

jet fighters at Hill AeroSpace Museum

Slip and slides